[Adopted 4-14-2021 by Ord. No. 333-2021[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. III,
Historical Commission, adopted 3-10-1975 by Ord. No. 48-75, as amended.
Pursuant to the powers granted by the Historic Preservation
Act,[1] there is hereby created the East Whiteland Township Historical
Commission.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 37 Pa.C.S.A. § 501 et seq.
A.Â
The said Commission:
(1)Â
Shall consist of seven members who must be legal residents of East
Whiteland Township.
(2)Â
Shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
(3)Â
Shall be appointed for a term of four years. Terms shall be staggered
so that no more than two members are replaced in any calendar year
unless resignations require that open positions be filled mid-term.
B.Â
Any vacancies in the Commission occurring otherwise than by expiration
of a term shall be filled by the Board of Supervisors and shall be
for the unexpired term of said member.
C.Â
The Commission shall have the right to make recommendations for appointees
to the Board of Supervisors for unfulfilled terms or full terms.
All members of the Commission will serve without pay. Members
may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses with prior
approval of such expenses by the Board of Supervisors.
The Board of Supervisors may remove members from the Commission
for malfeasance, conflict of interest, disruptive behavior, or dereliction
of duty. Any concerns regarding member actions should be brought to
the Board of Supervisors' attention.
The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and Secretary each
January and create and fill such other offices as it deems proper.
The Commission may make and alter its rules of procedure consistent
with the ordinances of the Township and the laws of the commonwealth.
It shall keep records of its resolutions, transactions, findings,
and determinations and provide written records of those actions to
the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of each meeting. A majority
of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, and action taken at any
meeting shall require the affirmative vote of that majority.
The Commission's duties shall include, but are not limited
to, the following:
A.Â
To record the history of East Whiteland Township and its significant
architectural and historic sites.
B.Â
To gather documentary evidence, illustrations, photographs and all
other appropriate materials which will establish architecture and
sites as significant and worthy of preservation.
D.Â
To cooperate with all Township officials and agencies in relation
to the preservation and restoration of historic structures and sites,
including the possible acquisition and use of the same by the Township.
E.Â
To consider, promote and, with the approval of the Board of Supervisors,
to apply for technical and financial assistance from all appropriate
local, Township, county, state, federal and other agencies in the
preservation of significant architecture and historic sites within
East Whiteland Township and to report all related action to the Board
of Supervisors. To prepare and submit a yearly budget to the Board
of Supervisors for sums deemed necessary to carry out the objectives
of the Historical Commission.
G.Â
To make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning revisions,
updates or corrections to the Historic Resources Map.
H.Â
To maintain an updated list which clearly identifies buildings, cemeteries,
structures, objects, and districts and their respective classifications
on the Historic Resources Map.
I.Â
To advise the Zoning Hearing Board and Board of Supervisors on all
requests for special exceptions, conditional uses, or variances affecting
historic resources.
The Board of Supervisors may appropriate from the general Township
funds such funds as may be necessary and available for the work of
the Historical Commission in the year for which the appropriation
is made.
All members shall be required to sign and abide by the Township's
social media policy. Failure to comply with the policy may result
in removal from the Commission.